THE 2013/14 SEASON IN PICTURES: DECEMBER

The official Chelsea website takes a look back at the 2013/14 season through images taken over the course of the campaign, capturing the action as it unfolded, including goals scored, team celebrations, supporters’ reactions and behind-the-scenes shots.

There was no busier month for the Blues than December, with nine games played across three different competitions…

Gary Cahill stoops to head home our equaliser against Southampton on the first day of the month. Having trailed as early as the 13th second, the defender’s leveller started the turnaround. We would go on to win 3-1.

The first of two trips to Sunderland in the space of a fortnight quickly turned into the Eden Hazard show. The winger scored two and made one in a thrilling 4-3 win in the North-East. Here the brilliant Belgian celebrates his first of the game.

More goals followed three days later at Stoke, but unfortunately we lost to the odd goal in five. Peter Crouch equalises for the Potters through a sea of Chelsea legs just before half-time.

Ahead of our home game with Steaua Bucharest both teams and the officials linked arms to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, who had passed away the week before. On the pitch, Demba Ba scored the only goal in a 1-0 win to secure our place at the top of the group.

A first London derby with Crystal Palace in eight-and-a-half years was fierce and, occasionally, fraught with danger. Branislav Ivanovic hacks the ball clear as Palace tried to equalise for the second time but it finished 2-1 to the Blues.

We exited the Capital One Cup at the quarter-final stage despite taking the lead through Frank Lampard. Goal-line technology was required after the midfielder bundled a cross home.

The players provided some Christmas cheer off the pitch by visiting children at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital who would be spending the festive period away from their home.

On the pitch, meanwhile, a wet evening at the Emirates produced no goals, denying Arsenal the chance to be top at Christmas.

Eden Hazard celebrates his goal on Boxing Day, the only one of the game, as we defeated Swansea at the Bridge.

Hazard provided another memorable strike in our final game of 2013, against Liverpool, before Samuel Eto’o struck the winner from close range.